Flat Battery

[cookiemonster]

Bike is 2 months old, i dont leave the alarm armed overnight and I'd just left it for 2 weeks...

Question is, do i just get it started and be happy, or do i get it recovered back to the dealer for a software check and maybe a new battery? (which is the way i'm leaning now...)

cheers

jon

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Sorry to hear

If it were me, I'd get it started so that I could ride it over this lovely sunny w/e and then bkk it in to my dealer to be sorted at my convenience.

Have a good'un

Andres

 

[cookiemonster]

yep, thanks

For some reason i thought there was a problem jumping the bike in the normal fashion, but (after a quick search), as thats not the case i jumped off a battery pack and got it running. I'll book it in next week to get it seen to though; 2 months of ownership and 10 days of no use shouldnt result in a flat battery...

It's bl**dy cold out there though

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Flat battery

It is difficult to jump to conclusions but the servo brakes + continuous headlight does take a lot of current - not to mention the heated grips. One small consolation - it is very easy to clip a charger directly onto the battery terminals. If I leave mine for more than a few days I leave it on my optimate(type) charger.

 

[Deleted Member I]

Is it true that you can only charge the 1200 via the power socket with an official (read: really really really expensive) charger. If you use other brands of chargers, you need to connect it directly to the battery?

 

[Wapping]

Is it true that you can only charge the 1200 via the power socket with an official (read: really really really expensive) charger. If you use other brands of chargers, you need to connect it directly to the battery?

BMW's own trickle charger through the power socket = OK

Optimate or similar trickle charger conected straight to the battery = OK

Optimate or similar trickle charger through the power socket = NO

 

[GSmonkey]

When leaving any bike that I've owned over the winter I've always used a maintenance charger, always done the same with the 12GS and had no problems with the battery. Go with the optimate, good piece of kit, always best to use as preventative maintenance though rather than to start a flat.

You can't really leave the alarm unarmed, as I'm sure it will still draw current whether you've armed the movement detection or not. A lot of current draw also comes from 'listening' for the blipper.

 

[Bazza]

Well. My 4 month bike is now being recovered to the dealers for the second time........ Had a few problems. but the latest one is to do with the battery.
Usually ride it every day to work 15 miles each way. Left it for a week and tryed to start it.....click click. ( no alarm by the way and it has had the software updated , i belive ) Bought an optimate then it started, Has been ok for a week but the heated grips didnt feel to warm.
Anyhow today was a nice sunny day and decided to go for a spin. 10 miles from home giving it a bit , went for the brakes....no ABS and no warning light. Knocked the heated grips off and thought give the alternator a chance to charge the battery. then speedo and rev counter stuck......lcd went off and bike came to a holt......!!!!!

god it was cold waiting for the recovery.
Any one want to buy a hardly used GS??????


Id get it recovered if i were you

 

[North]

I had my battery go dead after the bike was sitting for 3 weeks.

A post I read said it was software problem and that there is an up-date to fix it.

 

[VAL. H.]

Stik with it kid!

Well. My 4 month bike is now being recovered to the dealers for the second time........ Had a few problems. but the latest one is to do with the battery.
Any one want to buy a hardly used GS?????

Don't chuck all the toys out the pram just yet Think about it, it's the best ride you have ever taken It's under warranty, so get the dealer to sort it at your convenience and then enjoy the ride

On a more positive note

I've had my 1200 for a year now, no allarm fitted ( why spend £300 to get £18.00 off your insurance )

I have had to keep the bike outside this winter under a cover 'no shed yet' I've left it for up to three weeks but mostly two without starting it 'no charger either'.
It allway starts no problemb and generaly only dose 30mls ish trips with the heated grips on.

I remember the dealer saying somthing to the affect of, when you turn off the ignition 'ie after a ride out' and then turn it back on 'ie you forgot to log your milage say' then turne it off again, it fools the computer and the power is left on and drains the battery.
I don't do this and have never had any problems with the bike.

If you do, do this, 'Try starting the engine and run it for a minut or two before turning it off again' you never know it might just work

 

[NorthernBoy]

BMW's own trickle charger through the power socket = OK

Optimate or similar trickle charger conected straight to the battery = OK

Optimate or similar trickle charger through the power socket = NO

My dealer thought that I was OK with the optimate through the socket as long as you plug it in before you turn the ignition off. Is this true?

 

[Bod]

Simple way to make sure the bike starts use it, after all that what you paid all that money for.

My bike 11 months old 18000 miles never had a problem.

 

[Wapping]

My dealer thought that I was OK with the optimate through the socket as long as you plug it in before you turn the ignition off. Is this true?

No idea, never tried. But a quick trawl through Search reveals that it doesn't work. Something to do with the Can shutting after about 15 seconds down and cutting the socket off.

BMW's own charger overides the Can, so it can be plugged in quite hapily.

With an Optimate simply attach the flying lead to the plus and minus battery terminals and then attach the charger. What could be simpler?